Improvement in fire-escapes



E. R..y MENZEL.

ETRE-ESCAPE.

Patented Ju1yv17,1s77.

Messes i wa W N. PETERS. FHOTO-LXTMOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON CJ E. R. MENZEL.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Patented J'u1y17, 1877.

NFETERS. FHOTOLTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

EDMUND R. MENZEL, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT lIN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Y Specification forming part of lLetters Patent No. 193,264, dated July 17, 1877 application 4filed May 11, 1877.

improved fire-escape. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a top view, partly in section, thereof, the line c c, Fig. 1,v indicating the plane of section. rlhese two figures, l and 2, are drawn on a larger-scale than the remaining figures. Fig.- 3, Sheet 3, is a vertical longitudinal section,

and Fig. 4, Sheet 3, a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 5, Sheet 4, is a sideI view of the same, showing it folded and placed on- .trucks for transportation.

Similar letters of reference .indicate corre--4 spending parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to ya'new fire-escape, which is mounted upon wheels for conveni-` ence of transportation, andvwhich, in use, can be extended to a considerable height; The extension-frame constitutes the guide for=an elevator cage or car, which can be raisedand loweredY at will,to aid in the escape of persons from burning houses,and in the-supply of means and help necessary for extinguish ing the fire. The extension-frame, which, in use, isl in vertical` position, can, nevertheless, befoldeddown into `a horizontal position, so that the entire apparatus may be readily conveyed on trucks, which areadapted to support it.'

The invention consists of a-series of novel features-in the construction of the fire-escape, and'of several novel combinations, `whichenter into the same,and which are lall hereinafter clearly and specifically pointed out.

The letter Ain the drawing represents a horizontal .platform or frame-work, which constitutes the chief support of the apparatus, and which, whenA the fire-'escape is to be used, -is supported by four wheels,B B, thatv are hunginfswivel-shanks like casters, so that they may. permit theapparatus to be conven-A iently moved in any desired direction; The shanksxa, a of these caster-wheels are screwthreaded, so that, by turning them, 4the idistance-between theiframe-work A. and the 'pave'- ment or ground may be varied. This enables me to properly adjust the platform on unevenl ground, or where one set of rollers stands in a gutter and the other onv the street. The casters can, moreover, be' slipped oli their threaded Shanks a, as indicated by sectional part in Fig. l, so that they may be out ot' the way when the machine is conveyed on trucks, asin Figr. Upon the platform A are supported two shafts, Gand D, of which one, C, serves to extend the elevator-frame, while the other, D, serves to move the elevator cage or car. These shafts receive motion from a suitable steam-cylinder, E, which is also supported` on the platform A, and which is connected with a suitable boiler, likewise supported thereon.

In place of said cylinder and boiler Aother suitablemotive-power may be'nsed. The shaft D carries also a couple of windlasses or drums, b, which, when revolved, may serve to wind up a rope, by which the apparatusis connected to the ground, and to thus move `the machine into any suitable position.` Suitable brakes and-clutches are `or mayy be applied to the shafts GD'to regulate their movements in the operation of the machine..

The shaft C may, by a clutch, also Abe thrown in gear with a wheel, d, that is hung loose upon a rock-shaft, F, which has its bearings on the platform A, and which is traversed by the lower .part of a long screw, G. rIhe Wheel d, when turned, serves also by in termediate gearing to turn said screw G, and thereby to fold down the elevator-frame in manner hereinafter described, ythe shaft F swinging in accordance with theinclination of the screw Gr, that is swiveled in it.

To one end Aoffthe platform A is hinged, by arstrong bolt or shaft, e, one corner of the elevator-frame H, which, when in a vertical position, as in Figs. l and 8, stands entirely on theplatform, and is supported by the same.

The screw G,.hereinabove mentioned, passes througha nut, f, which is pivoted in ears g that. project from the elevator-frame H, as shown in. Figs, 3 and 5, and by revolving said screw (which is in a vertical position when the elevator-frame stands` uprightythe elevatorframe is swung onA its pivot e into a horizontal position, as shown vin'fFig. 5. In thisposition the apparatus can be supported upon two trucks, I and J, of which one, I, is placed beneath the platform A, while the other, J, is placed under the horizontal elevator-frame H; and thus the apparatus may be conveniently transported along streets or thoroughfares to and from the places of conflagration. l

After the elevator-frame has been folded into the horizontal position upon its truck J, to which it is locked by suitable catches, the platform A is raised by a hydraulic jack, h, which is suspended beneath the platform A, so as to permit the truck I to be placed under it; and the caster-wheels B are then slipped o' their screw-shanks a, and placed upon the vehicle out of the way. The truck J has a. steering appliance and a seat, so that by its means the Vehicle may be properly directed.

When the apparatus is to be used at a re the elevator-frame is raised into a vertical posit-ion by revolving the screw G, and the hydraulic jack extended so that it may reach to the ground, and said jack operated after the casters B have been reapplied to their pins a, so as to iirst allow the truck I to be withdrawn, and next to bring the casters down upon the ground.

It will be seen that it is a feature of importance to swivel the screw G in the vibrating shaft F, and to pivot the nutfin the ears g, as the parts will thereby adjust themselves properly to the varying 'inclination of the screw G in changing the position of the elevator-frame from a vertical to a horizontal position, or vice versa.

The elevator-frame H is extensible, being made in two or more sections that slide one within the other. The drawing shows it to be made in two sections, the lower of which, H, is pivoted to the platform in manner stated, while the upper, K, is capable of sliding up and down within the section H to elongate the same to a proper extent; but additional sliding sections may be supplied. The extension K has its lower end connected with a series of ropes or chains, it', which pass over frictionrollers j that are placed at the top of the frame H; thence downward over a series of lower friction-rollers l, and thence to the shaft or drum C. Thus, by revolving the shaft() in one direction, the ropes or chains i will be wound upon it, and the frame K elevated, while, if it is turned in the opposite direction, the shaft C will cause the ropes to unwind, and the extension part K to descend by its own weight. One or more ladders, L, are attached to the outer side of the elevator-frame H, to enable firemen to ascend to the top of the same, and the -extension-frame K has a series of folding rungs, m m, pivoted to it, which, if swung outward, as in Fig. 4, will constitute steps for the ascending and descending firemen; but in moving the extension-frame K up or down the rungs m are folded inward, so as not to project or interfere with the proper adjustment of said frame K. Hinged platforms M M are also attached to the upperouter part ofthe frame H for the' H. Similar platforms N are or may be hinged.

to the outer side of vthe extension-frame K, as in Fig. 4, to serve the" like purpose as the platforms M, and, if the frame K is to be moved up or down, such platforms N must rst be folded iiush against the frame K.

Within the extensible elevator-frame, above described, is placed an elevator cage or car, O, which may be moved up and down therein, and serves 'to take persons from the upper stories of burning houses and lower them to the ground, or vice versa.

` The car O is suspended by ropes or chains n from pulleysvo' o that are hung in the top of the uppermost extension-section K. These ropes or chains n are connected with the shaft D, on which they can be'wound or unwound at pleasure, to raise or lower the car O. At one side the car O is provided with a hinged platform, P, which has jointed side guards or railspp, and which may be let down into a horizontal position when the car is raised, as in Fig. l. In this case the platform P constitutes a bridge to a window, balcony, roof, or other means of escape, and enables persons to safely reach the car. While the car travels up or down, the platform P is raised into a vertical position, as in Fig. 3, and serves in that case as a guard to keep persons from fall- .ing off the moving car. I prefer to connect the hinged platform P by ropes or chains q q with an arbor, r, kwhich is hung in the upper frame-work of the car, and which is connected with a winding spring or weight. When this 1 spring is released or made free to act by the touch upon a suitable trigger, it causes the arbor r to rotate to wind up the ropes q, and raise the platform Pinto the vertical position; and when afterward the said platform is let down again, the ropes q, in unwinding from the arbor i', serve to wind up the spring, and to set the same for again raising the platform.

rIhe three other sides of the car are provided with horizontal guard-rails s s, which are guided on posts t t of the car, and capable of sliding thereon. While the car is in use the rails s are at such a height as to .prevent its passengers from failing off; but when the car approaches the rplatform A the side rails s will be caught by pivoted spring-catches u u that are affixed to the frame H, and will by them beheld up While the car completes its downward motion. suiiciently elevated, so as not to obstruct egress from or approach to the lowered elevator-car, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. In as-z is pivoted to the platform A, and catches into The rails s are thereby a notch of a curved guide-plate, S, that projects from the frame H, as indicated in Fig. 3, and by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The leveIR connects by a pin, w, also with the clutch :v that throws the wheel d in gear `with the shaft G, so that by moving said lever R the elevator-frame is unlocked simultaneouslywith the commencement of the operation of the screw G, by which said frame is folded down.

It will be seen that by my improved reescape the loss of human life by fire can be almost entirely prevented, where, heretofore, especially in high structures, the danger of such loss was very great. The apparatus is easily transported, can be conveniently set up, and is adapted to rapidly and conveniently remove invalids, children, and women from burning structures without exposing them even to the dangers or inconveniences to which they must submit in all other fire-escapes.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the platform A and hinged elevator-frame H, with the supportingrollers B and removable trucks I and J, all arranged to operate so that the trucks are removed when the elevator-frame is erected, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the platform A, vibrating shaft or guide F, screw Gr, and pivoted nut f, with the pivoted elevator-frame H, all operating substantially as hereinv shown and described.

3. The combination of the locking-lever R of the pivoted elevator-frame H, with the clutch w, which throws the screw G into gear, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The hydraulic jack h, suspended from the platform A, in combination with the removable casters B B, substantially as and for the purpose specilied. Y

5. The combination of the elevator-frame with the folding rungs m m, pivoted thereto, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. The combination of the elevator-car O and hinged gate or platform P with the ropes q and spring-arbor fr, all arranged to operate substantially as herein shown and described.

7. The combination of the elevator-car O with the posts t and with the guard-rail s, which is adapted to slide on said posts, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. The combination of the elevator-car O with the sliding rail s and withl the pivoted catches u, whereby said rail is arrested shortly before the car A reaches its lower position, substantially as specified.

EDMUND ROBERT MENZEL.

Witnesses:

ERNEST C. WEBB, F. v. BmEsEN. 

